Beverage dispenser



oct. 29, 1963 n G. E. SEENER 3,108,718

BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Aug. 17, 1959 S Sheets-Sheet 2 SWEEEE:

/NvE/ron: GEORGE E. .55E/VE HTToR-l G. E. SEENER BEVERAGE DISPENSER Oct.

Filed Aug. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A N V A/TOQ: GEORG/E 5ft-NEE, 5yWM,- Pgmdll H T'roRNE Ys United States Patent O This invention relatesto beverage dispensers, and more particularly to that form of beveragedispenser which has a separate source for each of the syrup andcarbonated` Water.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a beveragedispenser having flow control means which reta-ins substantially theamount of carbon dioxide as originally added to the water, but which yetlimits the amount of effervescence of the carbonated Water at the ownozzle and further preserves the proper mixture of syrup and carbonatedwater. This control of the carbonation is made possible through ia novelvalve `and stream straightener combination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beverage dispenser whichincorporates improved cooling characteristics with a minimum ofrefrigeration loss. According to the present invention, the nozzle andits hand-le incorporate a minimum of metal located externally of thecabinet.

Stili another object of the invention is to provide a beverage dispenserhaving an improved means for interconnecting -the nozzle and valve meanswith the syrup and water sources. Thus in the present invention, thenozzle and valve means are Wholly located beneath the wall of thecontainer, connected directly to the cooling coil in the aluminum floorcasting, thereby eliminating the necessity of cutting through a :sidewall of the container for external location of the operating handle.This feature eliminates more than a minimum loss of the cooling ac.-comp'hshed within the casting and prevents the escape oi carbon dioxidegas which ordinarily accompanies the heating of a beverage.

Another object of the invention is -to provide a beverage dispenserwhich is very `sani-tary and easy to clean.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragedispenser which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Additional objects will be apparent from the yfollowing description ofthe invent-ion.

ln the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevation View or" the beverage dispenser;

llGURE 2 is a view in section taken along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the lines 3-3 ol' FIGURE l;

FGURE 4 4is a view in section taken along the lines i-fl of FiGURE l;

FlGURE 5 is a view in section similar to FIGURE 2 but enlarged to showonly the relation of the container with the container top;

FIGURE 6 -is a partial view in section, also enlarged, showing the rearof the top as placed upon .the container;

FlGURE 7 is a partial view in section showing the lower front area ofFIGURE 2 on enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a partial view in section showing the syrup float control;

FGURE 9 is a partial view in section showing the lower front area ofFlGURE 4 on an enlarged scale and with a section taken through the syruppath;

FGURE l is a partial view in section similar to FlG- URE 9, but with asection taken through the path of carbonated water;

FIGURE l'l is an enlarged view in section of a portion of the water sideof the valve;

lhll Patented ci. 2Q?, i963 -liGURE l2 is `a partial view in sectiontaken along the lines i-`-l2 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE `13 is an enlarged view in section of the stream straightenerinsert;

FGURE 14 is a bottom view of the valve box;

FIGURE l is an end view of the valve box taken from the right side ofFlGURE `i4;

FGURE i6 is a plan view of the syrup orilice disk;

FGURE 17 is a view in section of a modification, similar to the view ofFIGURE 9;

FIGURE '18 is a view in section of the modication, similar to the viewof lFIGURE FiGURE i9 :is 'an enlarged view in section of a por-tion ofthe water valve of the modiiication; and

FIGURE 20 is yan end view of the valve box used in the modification.

The housing 2G of the present invention is illustrated as beinggenerally rectangular in shape. The housing 2.0 is provided :with :asheet metal base 2li, preferably of chrome for rust resistance and easeof cleaning. The base 2l comprises a continuous strip of sheet metalbent to conform to the bottom of the housing 2%; las illustrated, andhaving its ends 22 and 23 terminated in separated relations-hip (as canbe seen at FIGURE l).

The base 2.1 has ilanges 24 yby which it may be attached to the housing2li in a well known manner, las by screws. The lower end of the base 2lalso has ilanges lZ5. A plurality or" grommets 2o are attached to theflanges 25 to provide scratch eliminating feet to the dispenser. A brace27 connected between the sides yadds rigidity to the base 21.

The base is completed by the attachment of a chrome plate '23 betweenthe ends 22 and 23 of the strip Zi.

The exterior of t.e housing 2i? includes a ilat plate bottom to whichthe langes Zd of the base 2l are attached.

The bottom plate 3u* has a flange 3d turned downwardly about most or"its perimeter. lt will be observed that the bottom plate 3d is cut awayat its front edge 32 so that it can cooperate with other parts to form ailat recess as will appear.

The outer sides of the housing 2i? are composed of a single, continuousmetal sheet 33. The lower end 3d of the sheet 33 extends even with theflanges :il on the bottom plate 3d. The lianges 3l are welded to thesheet 33. As can be seen in FGURE l, the sheet 33 has a trapezoidalcut-out 35 at its front.

A sheet lmetal connection is made between the front side 33 and thebottom plate Eil as can be seen from FlGURES 1 and 2. This connection isin the form of a step cornprising a 'horizontal plate 36 and ya verticalplate 37, which cooperate to vform a recess 38 at the front of thecabinet for receiving the nozzle structure to be described. The steppersections 36 and 37 of the recess 38 have portions cut away (which arenot visible because they are hidden by the nozzle structures) so thatcertain connections can be made through the housing.

A rubber or plastic channel-shaped border is glued to the juncture ofthe flange 3i with the side wall 33. The rub-ber channel 39 atiordsprotection against any possible sharp edges at that juncture. Thechannel 39 also serves as a bumper against glasses shoved againstv thehousing.

The interior of the housing includes a cast aluminum `cold plate e3. Thecold plate 43 has ya ilat top fili, which sacar/'ie fthe tiange 45 ofthe cast-ing d3. The inner wall i3 is spaced from the outer wall 33 asillustrated. 'Ehe inner wall 48 is of stainless steel shee metalconstruction, which is less expensive than aluminum. At the juncture ofthe inner wall 18 with the flange 45, in addition to the screws 49, ametal adhesive provides a water tight connection. Such adhesive isconventional.

The space at Ithe top 4between :the outer wall 33 and the inner wall 43is spanned and closed by a continuous channel member 51) secured to eachof the walls. A rubber molding 51 of the general cross-sectional shapeillustrated in FiGURES 5 and 6 covers the top of the wall.

The space between :the walls 33 and d8 is lled with a well knowninsulating material 52, such as fibre glass or wall insulation.

A top 53 `for the housing 211 is formed of a bent plate having a rubbermolding 5d covering its continuous lower edge. The rubber molding 5dseats upon the molding 51 when the top 53 is placed upon the housing 20.A handle 55 attached to the top 53 provides means for removing the top53.

There -is provision for .two syrup containers in the present embodiment.inasmuch `as both containers and their dispensing machine are the same,only one will be described.

There is a round hole 6i) through the cold plate casting '43 to permitpassage of an irregular shaped bushing 61. The bushing 61 projects bothbelow the cold plate 43 and above it, and has a recess 62 through thetop to receive the syrup dispenser. rI'he bushing 61 is threaded at itslower end 63 for engagement with a valve housing which will bedescribed. An 0 ring 64 provides a fluid-tight seal with the valvehousing. A shoulder 65 separates the lower portion from the upperportionof the bushing 61. The upper pontion is somewhat larger in diameter thanthe lower portion `63 and has external threads 66 so that a threadedring 67 having ears 63 can be manually turned onto the upper pontion 66of the bushing 61. When the bushing 61 has been threaded into the valvehousing, rthe washer 67 is turned onto the upper threaded section 66 and'tightened against the door de of the cold plate 43. This tightlysecures the bushing 61. There is a rubber washer 69 between the washer67 and the cold plate floor 44.

Ilhe syrup container 7G can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 as comprising twoseparate sections 71 and 7-2. The larger section 71 has a top 73 on it,and is formed integr-ally with the smaller, lower section 72. Betweenthe sections '71 and 72, there is an annular shoulder 74. The lowersection 72 has a small, circular spout 75 at the forward end of itsbottom surface. The spout 75 tits within the recess 62 of the bushing61.

A iloat assembly 76 sits upon the annular shoulder 74. The oat mechanism76, which is not a part of the present invention, comprises a rubberseal 77 seated upon the annular shoulder 74. The seal 77 has a vent tube'73 passing through it.

There is another hole 79 through the seal 77. A shaft Si) is freelyfreoiprocable through the hole 79 and has a stop washer S1 at its top tolimit the downwmd reciprofcation of the shaft 80. The lower end of theshaft 80 has an enlarged conical shape S2 which will not pass throughthe 4hole 79 but will seal that hole against duid passage when seated in`the bottom of ythe hole 79. .Attached tto the shaft di?, adjacent theenlarged section 82 is a float S3. The tloat 83 will, when in a loweredposition, permit syrup to low into the lower chamber 72. When enoughsyrup has entered the lower chamber 72 that the float 83 rises seatingthe conical pontion 32 within the hole 79, the flow of syrup will beblocked through the hole '79. At that time, a predetermined head ofsyrup wiil exist over the lower spout 75, thereby afording a uniformrate of syrup flow for every syrup disi pensing operation. The tube 7Sis a breather tube to permit air to escape as the lower chamber 72 fillseach time.

As before mentioned, the syrup spout 62 opens into a bushing 61, whichin turn is threaded into a valve housing S5. That valve housing 85 isillustrated in FGURES 14 and l5 as being of generally rectangular shape.There are two valve provisions within the housing, one for the syrup andone for the carbonated waiter. The one for the syrup will be describediirst with particular reference to FiGURE 9.

There is a chamber S6 communicating with the threaded opening 63 in thevalve housing S5. 'Ihe rear end of the recess 86 has an access opening87. The opening S7 Ahas threads 83 for engagement with a closure cap159. The closure cap S9 has a spring seat 90 on i-t.

There is a long -bore 91 extending from the recess 86 to the front end92 of the valve housing S5. The bore 91 also communicates with adownwardly extending recess 93 which opens into the bottom 94 of thevalve housing 35. The recess 93 has an annular flange 9S laboutfitsperiphery. The llange 95 has extern-al threads 96 upon which Aa retainer97 is threaded. The retainer 97 holds an orhice washer 98 between it andthe flange 95. The orifice washer 98 has -a small hole 99 through it andthrough which the syrup passes. The washer 98 is readilyreplace-able bydifferent washers having different sized ori ces.

A piston 103 is reciproeable within the bore 91. The

piston 163 has one end 1M enlarged so as yto lit fairly tightly within:the bore 91 and has a provision for an O ring 165 to provide a fluidtype seal o the enlarged end 104 within the bore 91. The end 104 has agenerally semi-hemispherical shaped end 166 which extends outside of thevalve housing 8S.

A slender stem 1117 extends between the end 104 and the opposite end 108of fthe piston 163. With reference also to FIGURE ll, the end 1118 has afrusto-conical section 1119 extending from the slender rod portion 107to a maximum diameter slightly less than lthe diameter of the bore 91.An annular flange 110 is spaced from the frustoconical section 169 by aperipheral groove 111 in the end 108. A cylindrical stud 112 cooperateswith the flange 11i) to define a spring seat 113 on the end 10S of thepiston 103.

There is a resilient sealing washer 114 seated in .the groove 111. Acompression spring 115 extends between the spring seat 9d on the cap 89and the spning seat 113 on the end 1138 of the piston 103. The spring115 tends to continuously urge the piston 1113 forward within the bore91 causing the seal 114 tto normally seal off the recess 36 from thebore 91 against passage of syrup. When the piston 103 is movedrearwardly by a force against the forward end 1116 (in a manner to bedescribed) the seal 114 breaks contact with the wall of the recess 86 sothat syrup can pass from the recess 86 through the bore 91 into therecess 93 and through `the orice 99 of the washer 9S. The rate of flowof syrup through the orifice 99 will always be the same, drink afterdrink, because of the constant head of syrup above ethe syrup spout 7S.

The carbonated water dispensing mechanism #will now be described, withparticular referece to FIGURES l0 and 13. (It is here to be observedthat while the present embodiment is illustrative'of a dispenser havingseparate valve means for each of the syrup and the water, the concept isequally applicable to premix dispensers, that is, those in which thewater and syrup are mixed before reaching the valve. For suchdispensers, the same valving and stream straightener arrangement :couldbe used as is here described, while the separate syrup valving could beeliminated.)

A spiral tubing 12th is cast within the cold plate 43. A :carbonatedfwater inlet 121 is connected to one end of the coil 121i (FIGURES l, 2,and 7). Thus, the carbonated water to be dispensed will circulatethrough the coil 12.0 so that it will be cooled by the ice which willhave been placed within the housing 20.

A block 125 having a machined recess 126 is iitted within the cold platecasting 43, as illustrated in FIG- URES 9- and 10. The end of the tubing126 not connected to the inlet 121 connects to a water outlet 127 withinthe block l125. The outlet 17.7 communicates with the recess i126.

The valve mechanism for the carbonated water which communicates with therecess 126 is similar to that for the syrup. As can ybe seen in FIGURE10, there is a piston 128 having an enlarged forward end 129 with an Oring seal 138' for retaining liquid within the housing. The piston 128is reciprocable within `a bore 131 in the valve housing 85, and has thefrusto-conical end 132, a resilient sealing 'washer I133 and a springseat 134.

Communicating with the recess 131 is a larger recess 135 opening to theback of the valve housing 43. The opening has threads 136 for a threadedengagement with a sealing cap 137. The sealing cap 137 has an O ringseal 13S between it and the recess 135. A compression spring 139 biasesthe piston 128 forwardly within the housing 43.

The closure cap 137 has an elongated end '149 of reduced diametercarrying an O ring seal. There is an oriiice 141 through the length ofthe cap 137, communicating the recess 135 with the end 135 or" the cap137. T-'ne oriiice 141 being of smaller diameter than that of thecooling coil 127 serves to reduce pressure of the water within therecess 135. This `reduction in pressure partially conditions the waterfor being dispensed in a soft stream form as will be hereinafterexplained in conjunction with a discussion `of the stream straightener.

The reduced end 140 of the cap 137 is of a size to fit tightly Withinthe recess 126 of the insert block 125. When so positioned, the O ringon the end 141i provides an effective seal against the passage of fluidso that all fluid which passes from the opening 127 will be through theelongated oriiice 141.

Referring to FIGURE 13, there is a hole 143 through the'bottom of thehousing S5 and opening into the bore 131. The upper en'd of the hole`143 has a peripheral lip 144. rlhe lower end of the hole 143 comprisesan annular flange 145 threaded to receive a water straightener retainer146. The inner diameter of the retainer 146 is somewhat less than thediameter of the hole 143. The difference between the two diametersdeiines a shoulder or rim 147. A cylindrical bushing 148 is seated uponthe shoulder 147, and extends upwardly within the hole, terminatingshort of the rim 144.

A stream straightener is retained between the Ibushing 143 and the rim144. The stream straightener has an elongated orice or tnbe 151extending vertically from its upper end, and terminating at 152 short ofits lower end.

The diameter of the stream straightener below the portion restingbetween the bushing 148 and the rim 144- is considerably reduced, as at153. It is within this reduced section 153 that the orifice 1511terminates.

There are -two horizontal orifices I154 and 154 communicating with theend 152 of the first oriiice 151. The orifices 154 Vand 154 'are atright angles to each other and generally at right angles to the firstorifice 151. All oriiices are of approximately the same diameters,although this is not necessary.

The lower end 155 of the stream straightener 15)` is in the form of aninverted truste-conical coniiguration. This lower end 155 cooperateswith the inner wall '156 of the retainer 145 to dene a restrictedopening 157 It can be appreciated that the -path of carbonated waterwill be through the water inlet 121 to thereafter circulate through thespiral coil 120. The water then reaches the end 127 of the coil 120 andpasses through the orifice 1411 in the closure cap 137. I-f the piston1.23 has been moved rearwardly within the valve housing 43, the seal`1353 will have been separated from the valve housing permitting thewater to flow past the recess into the bore 131. From the bore 131, thewater passes through the oriice 151, through' the oriiices 154 and 154',and then is sprayed into the truste-conical shaped end 155 of the streamstraightener 150. `In has ybeen found that for a water source pressureof from 70 to 120 p.s.i., the present valve and stream straightenerarrangement will reduce the rate of flow to 5 ounces per four seconds.This reduction in the -iiow `of carbonated liquid greatly reduces theeffervescence of the liquid as it is dispersed from the streamstraightener, -thereby permitting a greater volume of beverage to bedispensed into a glass.

The bottom of the valve housing 43 has an annular lip 161i) surroundingboth the syrup and the carbonated water outlet. A mixing bowl 161 of theshape clearly illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 is presstit onto the lip161i. The mixing bowl 161 has a ribbed opening 162 in its bottom throughwhich the mixed uid may pass. Fluid from the syr-up outlet and thecarbonated water outlet passes into the mixing -bowl and is well mixedbefore passing through the outlet 4162 into a glass.

A common operating handle 165 operates Iboth syrup and carbonated watervalve pistons. The handle 165 is pivoted at 166 about two spring biasedpins 167. The handle 165 has a turned up tiange 165 extending the widthof the handle, so that when the handle is pivoted in the direction ofthe arrow about the pins 167, the ange 168 will force the valve pistons103` and 128 toward the rear of the valve housing, for a dispensingoperation in the manner before described.

It will be observed that inthe present arrangement the valve housing `85`is located entirely beneath the housing walls, and has its openingscommunicating only with theV cold plate 43. Thus, boring through housingis eliminated.

In operation, the syrup container 711 is filled with syrup and thehousing around the containers is -lled with crushed ice or ice cubes.Carbonated water is made available to the inlet 121 of the coil 120i.

The float arrangement '76 of the syrup container 7u assures that apredetermined head of syrup will beprovided above the container spout75.

When the handle 165 is pivoted about the pins 167 the ange 16S forcesthe Valve pistons 103 and 1218 rearwardly in the housing -to cause boththe syrup and the carbonated water to be delivered to the mixing bowl161 as before explained. The mixture of syrup and carbonated water thenpasses through the outlet 162 in the mixing bowl 161 to a glass heldbeneath .the mixing bowl.

FIGURES 17 through 20 illustrate a modification of the invention whichmay be employed for a diierent housing arrangement. The essentialelements and operation of the modification are the same as has beendescribed for FIGURES 1 'through 16.

In this modification the housing 25u has a cold-plate 201 which isflatter than the cold-plate previously described. The syrup container292 has its outlet spout 253 protruding through the cold-plate 201.

The valve box 2M has the geeneral shape illustrated in FIGURES 17, 18and 20. This may be compared to the valve box or housing S5 shown inFIGURES 9, l0, 14 and l5. For the syrup sid-e there is threaded into thesyrup end of the valve box a communicating tube 2115, having suitable`G-ring sealing Kmeans 2.56 and 267. The communicating .tube 255 has apassage 2113 through it which communicates with the syrup spout 2133 bymeans of a chamber 209' formed in an insert 210 in the coldplate 201.

The housing 2114 has two chambers or bores 211 and 212. In the chamber211 is a piston 213, spring urged by a compression spring 214 in themanner already described for the previous modification, which upon beingforced to the right by the operating handle 215 will unaloof/1e i. seatthe sealing ring 216, thereby permitting syrup to flow past the valve.

There is an oriiice disc 217 having a small oriice 21.8 through whichthe syrup must pass before reaching the mixing bowl 219. The critica.disc is held .to the valve box 264 by a threaded retaim'ng cap 223,having a large hole 221 in it, secured to a threaded extensio-nZZ at thebottom of the valve box 264.

The water valve has 'the `same basic elements as that of the rstmodification. There is a piston 223 reciprocable in the chamber 212 forintroducing carbouatedwater to the stream straightener 224. (The streamstraightener 223 is similar to that shown in FGURE 13 and describedinfra.) The stream straightener 224 is held .toV the valve box 2134 by aretainer 225 threaded onto a projection 26 beneath the valve box 264.

There is a tubular communicating connection 227 between the chamber 22dand the Water source '2255. il e inner end 229 of the communicatingmeans 227 has a Hayes Diaphram assembly 239, which is schematicallyillustrated at F-GURE 19 and which of itself is not a part of fthepresent invention. The Hayes Diaphragm is ernployed to maintain aconstant Water pressure to the valve 222%, regardless of varyingpressures at :the water source.

It will be observed that the essential difference between the twomodifications of .the invention described is that the valve arrangementof the modification of FGURES 17 through 2O is located entirely forwardof lthe housing, whereas the valve and nozzle arrangement of the firstdescribed embodiment is located partially beneath the housing andcontainer.

Various changes and modication-S may be made within the process of thisinvention as :will be readily apparent to those skilled in 'the art.Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as delined by :the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. AA beverage dispenser comprising a housing having a cast licor, afront wall and side walls attached to the loor; a syrup source; passagemeans opening into the casting and connected to the syrup source forpassage of syrup Ithrough the casting; a -Water source; passage meansopening into the casting and connected for passage of walter through thecasting; the syrup and water passages having openings next to oneanother adjacent the front end of the floor and a discharge nozzleconnected into the casting below the front wall, the discharge nozzle`having ports in its rearward side for connecting to open- Cit 2. In abeverage dis, e ser having means for dispensing syrup into a mixing bowlat a constant iiow rate for successive drinks: la carbonatedWater'source; a valve between said source and the mixing bowl; a streamstreig tener between the valve and the mixing bowl; said valve, whenopened, admitting water from said source through said streamstraightener; said stream straightener having a Vfirst tube throughwhich .the water first ilows and a second tube angularly communicatingwith the first tube for changing the path of flow of the water as itleaves the iirst tube, a skirt below the second tube onto which waterpassing from the second tube falls; the axis of the `second tube beingsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of `llow o Water past theskirt; and means for restricting the flow of Water past the skirt.

3. A stream straightener for a carbonated beverage dispenser; saidstream straightener being connected to a arbonuted liquid source; saidstream straightener comprising ya small passage for directing the flowof liquid in one direction and opening into another passage fordirecting the low of huid in a second direction; said second passageopening above a skirt por-tion of inverted frustoconical shape, thelower periphery of which cooperates with a cylindrical surface to definea restricted annular opening, the inner edge of lthe surface of theskirt portion being positioned immediately below the second passageopening with the outer edge of the skirt portion positioned below andoutward of the inner edge and below the restricted annular opening, theaxis of the second passage being at substantially right angles to thedirection of iluid ilow past the skint, Ithe cylindrical surfaceextending upwardly from the restricted opening to a point opposite thesecond passage opening in the path of fluid from the second passage.

4. The stream straightener of claim 3 wherein `the orifrees andthe skirtportion are replaceable within the cylindrical surface' to Vpermitmodification of the stream straightener characteristics.

References @Cited in the rile of this patent UNiTiD STATES PATENTSCanada Oct. 23, 1956

1. A BEVERAGE DISPENSER COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A CAST FLOOR, AFRONT WALL AND SIDE WALLS ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR; A SYRUP SOURCE; PASSAGEMEANS OPENING INTO THE CASTING AND CONNECTED TO THE SYRUP SOURCE FORPASSAGE OF SYRUP THROUGH THE CASTING; A WATER SOURCE; PASSAGE MEANSOPENING INTO THE CASING AND CONNECTED FOR PASSAGE OF WATER THROUGH THECASTING; THE SYRUP AND WATER PASSAGES HAVING OPENINGS NEXT TO ONEANOTHER ADJACENT THE FRONT END OF THE FLOOR AND A DISCHARGE NOZZLECONNECTED INTO THE CASTING BELOW THE FRONT WALL, THE DISCHARGE NOZZLEHAVING PORTS IN ITS REARWARD SIDE FOR CONNECTING TO OPENINGS IN THESYRUP PASSAGE MEANS AND THE WATER SOURCE PASSAGE MEANS; THE DISCHARGENOZZLE HAVING AN OUTLET THROUGH ITS LOWER SIDE AND HAVING PASSAGESTHROUGH IT FOR COMMUNICATING THE PORTS WITH THE OUTLET; VALVE MEANS INEACH PASSAGE AND A LEVER FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE VALVE MEANS; THELEVER BEING POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF THE FRONT SIDE OF THE HOUSING.